ARIZONA 2022: A National Park Road Trip - Day 8 Sedona

[Melbatb]

Although I woke up at about 4am I did manage to get back to sleep and woke for good at around 6.30am - just as the sun was rising. The joys of having a balcony was that I could just put my coat on and take plenty of photos! You could never get tired of the view!

O woke up as I want the quietest but was happy to see the sunrise too. I put on a pair of trousers and went to get breakfast. I got some more photos on the way there.

This was a bag breakfast and better than expected - cinnamon roll, a cereal bar, an apple, a fruit pot and coffee. I just had the first and last item!

One more photo before we left!

We didn't do the drive as we had the hire car and everything I had read was that the insurance could be invalidated by doing it. As the ground was soft after the snow it was a risk I wasn't prepared to take.

After showers we went down to the shop as we had a $20 voucher to use. We got two handmade dream catchers- one for O and one for F!

We went back to the room, gathered our stuff and checked out. The car windscreen was frozen over so we waited for it to de-ice. Then we got the dreaded low pressure tyre warning - the third time. So off we went to the local gas station- at least O has had a life lesson in how to check the tire pressure!

We were on our way at 9.15am. It was to be a long drive- over 300km to Sedona. This was the place I had done the least research on. I know people rave about it so thought it was worth a stop as we made our way back to Phoenix for the flights home tomorrow. After about 2 hours we stopped to fill up with petrol and just stretch our legs. Back in the car, we discussed lunch and decided on Chipotle again. O found one in Flagstaff so we headed there.

I had the same as last time but with white coriander rice instead. O had a burrito. We ate in chatting away.

The last 90 minutes seem to take for ever but eventually we got to Sedona - out rather the village of Oak Creek where our hotel was. We were two early to check in so O had researched a local hike at Red Rock.

For once luck was on our side in the car park and we got a space just as someone left. Parking was $5.

Somehow on the trail we got lost which meant we got higher and higher on the rock. This gave us some lovely views but it got to a point where it was getting increasingly difficult to proceed so we decided to turn round. It was a lovely walk and certainly blew away the cobwebs after the long drive!

We got back in the car and de decided to see if we could check in. We were staying at Muyawki Inn - a motel type hotel that had good ratings on booking.com and was reasonable compared to most of the hotels here. This was no problem and we were soon in our room! The hotel is the one with the bright green roof in the photo.

After a rest I started to organize my baggage for the trip back. I only have hand luggage so needed to be very organised to get it all back in- clean clothes take up less space than dirty ones! I managed it though there are still a few items to go in!

O and I decided to go for a walk to see what we could find to eat. We headed south rather than north and after a kilometer came across a pizza restaurant that has good reviews. We went in and luckily they had one last table. I had a margarita pizza and O a mushroom one. I managed 5 slices of mine and O had all of his and 2 off my last slices too. He doesn't snack much but when he eats he eats!

This, including a coke, came to $47 including tip. O commented about how expensive pizza has become and he isn't wrong. But it was very tasty so worth it.

We had seen an ice cream shop just a few doors down so went there for dessert. O had 2 scoops- vegan rocky road and cookies and cream with whipped cream and chocolate sauce and I had just one scoop of salted caramel cheesecake with chocolate sauce. I had just finished mine when I realized I had left my handbag which had my passport, my driving license, my French ID card and my credit cards in it. I ran back in a blind panic but thankfully they had found it and everything was there. Phew.

We walked back to the hotel and chilled out for the rest of the evening. I tried to check in but the United ready to fly app is hopeless. First it wasn't happy about me having a British passport but flying to France (I have double nationality but didn't have time to get a French passport. I will for next time.) Then for the vaccinations it only has 2 spaces for 2 vaccinations but I have had three and three different ones and it worked even allow to put in a different vaccination for each one. I know I have everything I need to fly back (via San Francisco and Munich) but the app is hopeless (Lufthansa's was far easier). I will just have to check in at the airport tomorrow. The flight is apparently not too busy so hopefully will be able to get a reasonable seat.

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New Photo Added by Melbatb - 26 Feb 22 2:17 PM.

[lindasarahlou]

What a fabulous trip you have had together! Lovely memories to have built together with iconic vistas. Safe trip home

[mick]

A great day and even more fantastic photos especially the sunrise ones

Joan

[jocat]

Gorgeous sunrise photos. 😍

What a lucky escape with leaving your handbag behind. Can imagine the panic you must have felt. Thank goodness it had been found and everything was safe.

[OB1LukeLucas]

Gorgeous photos, I bet you did get a scare when you realised your handbag was left behind-thankfully still there! Safe flight home

[P&S]

So glad you found your bag, that must of been very scary! Fancy having the best nights sleep just as the trip is ending

I've loved reading along and the photos have been stunning

[CrispyA]

Quite a scare about your bag but glad it was okay. So glad you could go and see O.

[DisneyDaffodil]

Beautiful sunrise photos. I’m so pleased you have had such a wonderful memorable trip with O.

I can imagine that terrible feeling when you realised you’d left your bag behind, I’m so pleased to got it back again

[anji]

Your heart must have both raced and sank when you thought you'd lost your bag - what a relief it was handed in! The sunrise from your balcony is awesome